Understanding and Managing Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Strategies for Children and Adolescents Introduction   Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder primarily characterized by a persistent pattern of defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior towards authority figures. This disorder, typically diagnosed in childhood, manifests through frequent temper tantrums, excessive arguing with adults, deliberate attempts to annoy others, and a tendency to blame